Previous elected experience: Previously ran for the Leavenworth City Commission

Charles Raney feels people are looking for someone new to serve on the Leavenworth City Commission.

“They’re tired of seeing the same names over and over again,” he said.

Raney, who’s a candidate for the City Commission, said he was asked to run by fellow citizens and his peers. Raney said he felt in good conscience that he couldn’t say no.

Raney previously ran for the City Commission two years.

There are three commission seats up for election this year. In addition to Raney, Keith Melick, Davis T. Moulden, Mark Preisinger, Phil Urban and Lisa Weakley filed as candidates. Moulden, Preisinger and Urban currently serve on the commission. Weakley previously served on the commission.

Two candidates will be elected to four-year terms. A third candidate will be elected to a two-year term.

No primary will be necessary for the City Commission race. The general election will be April 2.

Raney said jobs and bringing outside money to the city are among the important issues facing Leavenworth.

He feels Leavenworth has been too slow for many years in terms of development while areas to the south have been growing.

He said code enforcement always will be an important issue in the city.

Raney also believes the Leavenworth Police Department is understaffed. He said the Police Department does a good job with what it has, but he thinks additional people are needed.

Raney also said he supports a project to widen the Centennial Bridge and improve a Missouri highway that provides access to the Kansas City International Airport.

Raney, who is a Leavenworth native, said he is semi-retired after working in almost every type of security job.

Raney said he’s learned to relax more since his first run for the City Commission. He said the first time around he was a little more tense because he didn’t know what to expect.

“Campaigning can by trying and it can be fun,” he said.

He said the part of a campaign he enjoys is meeting other citizens and listening to them.

Raney said it’s important for people to pay attention to the election.